Shorebirds in the valley this weekend including Short billed Dowitcher and Upland Sandpiper

Short billed Dowitcher, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Short billed Dowitcher, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Short billed Dowitcher andLeast Sandpipers, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Spotted Sandpiper, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Least Sandpipers, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Lesser Yellowlegs, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Great Egret, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Song Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Bobolinks, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Aug 30, 2015

My original plan for today was to stick closer to home but after talking to Bob Z. about his luck with herons and shorebirds yesterday at Arcadia I headed back over that way bright and early. I was certainly glad I took the trip over by the river this morning as I managed to find lots of good stuff. I started out at Arcadia and spent the next three plus hours there with the best bird by far being a Short billed Dowitcher that showed up after scanning the marsh for about thirty minutes. I was not sure I would find anything there as when I arrived a Cooper's Hawk was making repeated runs at the shorebirds that were present. This was my first Short billed Dowitcher in fall in the county and only the fourth time I have run across this species in the county (previous records including twice at Winsor Dam in May during inclement weather and once at Pilgrim Airport in Hatfield)  The Short billed Dowitcher became species #220 for Hampshire County this year. After quite a bit of time at the marsh I walked a bit through some of the fields before returning to the marsh once again before I headed back across the river. No luck finding the Black crowned Night Heron that Bob Z. had yesterday but still managed three wader species. Overall I had eight shorebird species at Arcadia (and added another species later at the Honey Pot making it nine shorebird species for the day....best fall day yet for shorebirds). Numerous other highlights among 66 species at Arcadia this morning with the full list attached below:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24815790

Solitary Sandpiper, CT River, Hadley, MA, Aug 30, 2015

Once I finished up at Arcadia I made it across the river to the Honey Pot to scan the fields for more shorebirds. I started at the dike and as I was walking up with my binoculars and scope I heard a three part call overhead and started scanning and picked up a small headed, short billed streamlined shorebird heading away...Upland Sandpiper! I immediately regretted my decision to leave the good camera in the car. I watched the bird disappear to the southwest toward the East Meadows. Not long after a Cooper's Hawk zipped through making me think the Upland Sandpiper probably flushed because of the raptor moving through....right place at the right time for me. The Upland Sandpiper becomes species #221 for Hampshire County this year which actually puts me ahead of my record setting year of 2014 (only for a day probably as I hit 222 on August 31 last year). Although not really trying to break my previous record this year looks prime to come very close. It will be interesting to see what the next week brings. The forecast calls for warmer weather through Thursday with a cold front moving through then meaning that Friday into next weekend could be quite good.  Full list from the Honey Pot  and the nearby CT river below:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24821459

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24817836

 

As far as the tropics are concerned Erika has been reduced to an unnamed tropical low pressure system and no longer even a remote threat to the northeast at this point. There is always the chance for regeneration at this point but not really likely. A new storm has formed way out near the Cape Verde Islands named Fred. It is a tropical storm at this time but will likely soon become a hurricane. It is forecast to move westward eventually but the threat to the US is unlikely and a long way off.

Solitary Sandpiper and Killdeer hunkered down as Merlins pass by, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 29, 2015

Great Egret, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 29, 2015

Merlin, Arcadia, Northampton, Aug 29, 2015

Yesterday I headed over to a few spots along the river in search of shorebirds. As is typical this time of year early morning fog made viewing difficult in some spots. My initial stop at the Honey Pot found the fog thick so I decided to head over toward Arcadia in the hopes that the fog would be less intense over that way. As I drove over the fog lifted a bit in downtown Northampton so I stopped at Paradise Pond before continuing over to Arcadia. Just a few shorebirds at the pond including a couple each of Solitary Sandpiper and Killdeer.  Arcadia was a little foggy but the marsh was visible and I had a couple each of Great Egret and Great Blue Heron plus a Green Heron. Shorebirds were present on the ever increasing mud and I had Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpiper. After just a few minutes of trying to find more shorebirds a couple of Merlins came in and repeatedly strafed the marsh until a bird flushed. They managed to get a Least Sandpiper to flush and they just barely missed the bird on several occasions. The Merlins seemed to be hunting together...not something I have seen with this species before. The hunting style was more reminiscent of Peregrine Falcons I have seen cooperatively hunting. Once the Least Sandpiper made it out of the area unscathed the next bird to flush was a Solitary Sandpiper that also managed to escape but had to dive into the water a couple times to get away. As the rest of the birds stayed crouched down the Merlins continued to make passes through the marsh. As it seemed unlikely anything new would show itself with the Merlins around I headed back over to the Honey Pot where the fog was a bit thinner and allowed closer inspection of several good looking fields. Alas no shorebirds were in them, at least that I could see. The only shorebirds around were along the mudflats in the river but these were quickly flushed by boats.

Another spot along the river in Hadley produced two Lesser Yellowlegs and a Solitary Sandpiper.

 

Full lists from the day:

Paradise Pond: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24798028

Arcadia:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24799028

Honey Pot:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24799029

CT River-Hadley: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24799030

 

Olive sided Flycatcher, Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Aug 29, 2015

Once I got home I picked up Wilson and we went for a walk along the Jabish Canal once again and once again found an Olive sided Flycatcher successfully hunting in the large marsh.

Jabish Canal: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24800613

I got a text from Steve later in the morning that Bob Z had a juvenile Black crowned Night Heron at Arcadia as well as additional shorebirds that were not there earlier in the morning. I guess once you take away a couple of hungry Merlins more birds arrive. 

Various stops around the valley, TS Erika starts to fizzle and the fourth anniversary of Irene

Common Yellowthroat, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 28, 2015

Bobolink, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 28, 2015

Song Sparrow, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 28, 2015

Merlin, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 28, 2015

Olive sided Flycatcher, Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Aug 28, 2015

East Meadows at dawn, Northampton, MA, Aug 28, 2015

House Wren, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Aug 28, 2015

I spent this morning covering a wide variety of areas starting before dawn at Winsor Dam where I had at least two calling Eastern Whip Poor Wills and ending along the Jabish Canal with two Olive sided Flycatchers. Between these stops I had lots of other stuff but nothing too unexpected. The early morning fog made viewing a bit difficult as I checked the Honey Pot and East Meadows for shorebirds but eventually the fog burned off (I still didn't have much luck with shorebirds even after the fog burned off). Full lists from the various stops are attached below:

Winsor Dam: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24791875
Honey Pot: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24786048
East Meadows: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24787481
Arcadia:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24786245
Lower Mill Pond: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24786942
Honey Pot: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24786938
CT River in Hadley: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24787104
Moody Bridge Rd Hadley: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24787404
Lake Wallace: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24787500
Jabish Canal trail: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24790630

It now appears that Tropical Storm Erika has taken a more southern track then originally forecast and will move over Hispaniola which will weaken the storm and possibly dissipate it. The storm is not expected to reach hurricane strength now but should still produce some wind and rains for Florida. What happens after it reaches Florida is another question. There is still a chance of it getting back over water and strengthening again but who knows at this point? 

Sooty Tern, Winsor Dam, Aug 28, 2011

Sooty Tern, Winsor Dam, Aug 28, 2011

Today also marks the fourth anniversary of the arrival of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene to western Massachusetts. It was likely a once in a lifetime storm that brought a bounty of unusual birds with it. Easily one of my most memorable birding days in western Massachusetts. I have attached the list from that epic day.

 

Winsor Dam on August 28, 2011:  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S8750565

Nelson's Sparrow at Arcadia and a late Ruby throated Hummingbird in Granby...who says the 13th is unlucky?!?!?

Nelson's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Nelson's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Nelson's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Nelson's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Nelson's Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Oct 13, 2014

I went out this morning with Jacob looking to find the Nelson's Sparrow we missed yesterday at Arcadia and despite the thick fog we found it fairly quickly and the bird cooperated nicely for us giving great views and allowing us to get some photos.  We were able to relocate the bird again a little later in the morning and get better photos.  A great bird and only my second county record of the species (the other one was also found at Arcadia). There may actually have been more than one individual around but we have not confirmed that yet. The Nelson's Sparrow becomes species #231 for Hampshire County this year, bringing me closer and closer to breaking my previous record of 236.  Besides the Nelson's Sparrow there were hundreds of other sparrows around as well as many other species. I have included the full list below from Arcadia. After a productive few hours at Arcadia we headed over to the Honey Pot briefly were we had lots more sparrows including a Vesper Sparrow bringing our total number of sparrow species for the morning up to ten plus towhee and junco....a sparrowpalozza day!
Arcadia

Canada Goose  38
Wood Duck  12
Mallard  4
Double-crested Cormorant  3
Northern Harrier  2
Sharp-shinned Hawk  2
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Killdeer  1
Ring-billed Gull  19
Mourning Dove  3
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  4
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  3
Pileated Woodpecker  2
Eastern Phoebe  1
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  14
American Crow  6
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  3
White-breasted Nuthatch  3
Carolina Wren  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  5
Eastern Bluebird  6
American Robin  13
Gray Catbird  3
Northern Mockingbird  2
American Pipit  4
Cedar Waxwing  4
Common Yellowthroat  3
Palm Warbler (Western)  1
Palm Warbler (Yellow)  6
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  4
Eastern Towhee  1
Chipping Sparrow  5
Field Sparrow  5
Savannah Sparrow  59
Nelson's Sparrow  1     Rare, found yesterday byJeremy Coleman, many photos
Song Sparrow  147
Lincoln's Sparrow  9
Swamp Sparrow  57
White-throated Sparrow  60
White-crowned Sparrow (Eastern)  16
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  3
Northern Cardinal  6
Indigo Bunting  1
Red-winged Blackbird  135
Brown-headed Cowbird  2
Purple Finch  3
Pine Siskin  10
American Goldfinch  8

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Granby, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Granby, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Granby, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Ruby throated Hummingbird, Granby, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Jabish Canal marsh with loads of winterberry, Belchertown, MA, Oct 13, 2014

Once I got home I took Wilson for a walk along the Jabish Canal where we found even more sparrows and other good stuff but nothing extreme. Once we got home I heard about a hummingbird at a private residence in Granby and after a few messages I was on my way to to get some photos and determine the species (if possible). I arrived around 1:30 and the bird showed up fairly quickly and I got photos through the window and then went outside to get more photos. The bird would come into feed every ten minutes or so but never perch. It appears to be a late male Ruby throated Hummingbird. Oddly the same residence hosted another late season hummingbird a couple years ago on almost the same date (that one was a female RTHU that stayed for about two weeks before flying off as Hurricane Sandy approached)

A late Common Nighthawk among many others at Arcadia

Common Nighthawk, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

Common Nighthawk (as found still alive along road), Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

Common Yellowthroat, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

Indigo Bunting showing rufous on wing, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

Indigo Bunting showing rufous on wing, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

Indigo Bunting showing rufous on wing, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

House Wren, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

Red eyed Vireo, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

Song Sparrow, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

Dawn, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 26, 2014

With beautiful weather and a day off I decided to spend the morning at Arcadia starting there before dawn and staying over four hours during which I found some 63 species with many highlights and decent numbers of various species.  The weather was just fantastic with sunny weather, a light breeze and temperatures that quickly climbed once the sun came up...comfortable in a T-shirt by 9AM at the end of September is a good day!  I have included the full list of species below.  The highlight (or perhaps lowlight) was finding a Common Nighthawk along the roadside near the large field where the Bobolinks breed in the summer.  Sadly the nighthawk was injured and was down on the ground slowly flapping its wings as I drove up the road.  I stopped and checked the bird out and moved it from the road as I tried to figure out what to do with the it.  As I sat on the side of the road with the bird for a few minutes contemplating if a wildlife rehab could help I noticed the bird stopped moving and it died there.  A closer examination of the bird revealed that it appeared to have a broken neck, likely from a strike with a car.  The bird was otherwise in perfect condition so I thought perhaps someone could use the bird for research or education so I called Dave at Arcadia (who oddly happened to be walking up the road as I called him).  After some discussion we decided I would drop the bird off at the Arcadia visitors center.  My latest date in the fall for this species I have ever had (previous latest date was Sept 17th...and I haven't seen one this year since Sept 6th).  Hopefully some good will come out of the death of this bird.  Common Nighthawks (like all nightjars) are just fascinating to me and are such unique birds.  It was impressive to see the bird up close and actually hold it in hand...always amazing how small and light the birds are.  Tough to see such a beautiful creature meet its end (especially when almost certainly human caused) but glad I was there to witness it.

Arcadia

Canada Goose 46    
Wood Duck 27
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 13
American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Northern Harrier 1    
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Ring-billed Gull 13
Mourning Dove 4
Common Nighthawk 1 Late. Seen on side of road on ground moving wings slightly. Appeared to have been hit by car. Moved bird off road where it died a couple minutes later.
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 8
Pileated Woodpecker 1
American Kestrel 1
Alder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher) 1 Silent bird
Eastern Phoebe 24 High count. Minimum
Blue-headed Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 12    
Blue Jay 29
American Crow 12
Black-capped Chickadee 16
Tufted Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 6
House Wren 3    
Winter Wren 1 Singing
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Eastern Bluebird 13
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 95
Gray Catbird 29
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 2    
European Starling 11
Cedar Waxwing 3
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 31
American Redstart 1
Northern Parula 1
Magnolia Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Palm Warbler (Western) 6
Palm Warbler (Yellow) 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
warbler sp. 4 Flight calls
Chipping Sparrow 7
Field Sparrow 1 Singing
Savannah Sparrow 37    
Song Sparrow 69
Lincoln's Sparrow 7
Swamp Sparrow 15    
White-throated Sparrow 8
sparrow sp. 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2    
Indigo Bunting 14 A few singing, one with rufous on wing that at quick glance may make you think blue grosbeak.
Bobolink 22
Red-winged Blackbird 370
American Goldfinch 14
House Sparrow 2

Jabish Canal marsh, Belchertown, MA, Sep 26, 2014

After leaving Arcadia I stopped briefly along the Connecticut River in Hadley looking for shorebirds and found four Least Sandpipers and a couple Spotted Sandpipers.  A walk along Jabish Canal with Wilson held about twenty species with the highlight being a flock of 26 Common Ravens heading east.  Not my largest flock of this species in western Massachusetts but in the top three.

Arcadia meadows at dawn, Northampton, MA, Sep 24, 2014

I tried my luck on Wednesday morning at Arcadia too trying to catch back up with the Blue Grosbeak I saw there on Tuesday but no luck.  Not really surprising as I had my camera with me this time and that almost guarantees anything unusual will stay out of sight!  Still good stuff around the small area I covered near the Ibis Pool including a somewhat late Warbling Vireo, a Northern Waterthrush that flushed from the Ibis Pool and then perched in a tree, six species of warblers and five species of sparrow plus a few Indigo Buntings and Bobolinks still hanging around.

Quabbin Park mid week and a couple other stops

Red eyed Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Blue headed Vireo, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Wild Turkey, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Carolina Wren, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Carolina Wren, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Northern Flickers, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Common Raven, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2014

I spent a few hours around Quabbin Park this morning exploring various areas.  It was fairly quiet early on but that was probably due to the cool morning temperatures in the 40's and scattered fog.  Thankfully as the morning ticked by it got more active in spots.  Nothing extreme but some nice numbers of a few species and some really good looks at a few individuals.  Full eBird list is attached below:

Quabbin Park

Canada Goose  13
Wood Duck  14
Mallard  3
Wild Turkey  8
Common Loon  1
Great Blue Heron  1
Sharp-shinned Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Ring-billed Gull  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  3
Downy Woodpecker  7
Hairy Woodpecker  2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)  11
Eastern Wood-Pewee  2     Calling
Eastern Phoebe  12
Yellow-throated Vireo  1     Still calling
Blue-headed Vireo  4
Red-eyed Vireo  6
Blue Jay  38
American Crow  10
Common Raven  3
Black-capped Chickadee  42
Tufted Titmouse  6
Red-breasted Nuthatch  7
White-breasted Nuthatch  6
Brown Creeper  1
House Wren  5
Carolina Wren  4
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  9
Gray Catbird  37
Northern Mockingbird  1
Cedar Waxwing  14
Black-and-white Warbler  3
Common Yellowthroat  14
American Redstart  7
Northern Parula  4
Magnolia Warbler  2
Chestnut-sided Warbler  1
Blackpoll Warbler  11
Black-throated Blue Warbler  1
Pine Warbler  18
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  1
Black-throated Green Warbler  7
warbler sp.  7     flight calls
Eastern Towhee  22     Minimum
Chipping Sparrow  18
Song Sparrow  2
Lincoln's Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  5
Scarlet Tanager  2
Northern Cardinal  10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak  1
American Goldfinch  6

Eastern Phoebe, Jabish Canal, Belchertown, MA, Sep 17, 2014

Once I got home from Quabbin Wilson and I took a walk out along the Jabish Canal.  Nothing too exciting but Wilson got to chase lots of grasshoppers so a great time in his eyes.

Killdeer, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Sep 16, 2014

Despite the forecast for rain to move in overnight and last through the morning on Tuesday the day dawned dry with the rain not starting until a few hours after sunrise.  If the forecast had worked out the potential was there for migrants (including shorebirds) to be forced down by the weather.  Even without the weather working out right I figured I would still check some fields on my way in and I made stops in the Honey Pot and the East Meadows and the only shorebirds found in any of the several fields I checked were five Killdeer.